As an educator, I am first and foremost an optimist: give students the right environment (read: clearly defined directions and goals in a supportive atmosphere) and those students will maximize their learning to rise to the high expectations set by the teacher. I believe that students can amass foundations of education by answering questions about knowledge and knowing in an environment where the teacher, as facilitator, allows the students to act as their own problem solvers.
No one philosophy of education is able to dictate the ideal methodology for all
situations or all students. For this reason, my classroom is one that affords
me the luxury of evaluating my students on their own choices and individuality.
In so doing, each student can demonstrate if he or she responds best to a more
didactic approach or a more constructivist approach. In this way, each student
determines what is his or her best method of answering questions about knowledge
and knowing.
Letters from parents!
[Please note that out of respect for privacy, the names have been changed; otherwise, the entire content and wording of the letters and e-mails are as they were written.]
"Recognize Mr. Zacharia as one of your best teachers"
Dear Administrators:
It is with great pleasure that I write you this letter regarding my daughter's
Journalism teacher, Mr. Mark Zacharia. From the first day of school I knew
this teacher would make a difference in my child's life. He confirmed my thoughts
at "Back to School Night" and throughout the year. He was approachable
and serious about this class, I absolutely expect my daughter to not only
use these Journalism skills now but also later. He encouraged her with outside
sources and scholarship possibilities. Mr. Zacharia's knowledge in this field
is impressive, so much so that I am surprised that there is no Journalism
2 offered. Mr. Zacharia really worked with my daughter, he worked through
her many moods and mindsets and continued to encourage her work and challenged
her skills in a good way. Please allow this letter to recognize Mr. Zacharia
as one of your best teachers at Parsippany Hills High School.
"Jeanine was so inspired by you"
The experience that Jeanine had in your English class was positive in many ways for her. Jeanine was so inspired by you and I hope she continues to grow through her love for writing and reading great literature. Thank you again for what you have given her this year--she has grown in confidence to express herself and has developed the skills she will need to move on to College English III.
"Robert often talks about your ideas at home"
Dear Mr. Zacharia:
Thank you so much for attending Robert's annual review with the Child Study Team and being such an advocate for him. I was very impressed with how well you knew Robert. You were aware of his strengths as well as of his weaknesses, but more importantly Robert was made to feel a valuable part of your class. I have always felt that it was crucial to a child's success to be aware that he is appreciated and valued.
Additionally, I must thank you very much for the regular contact I receive from you. In the 6 years that I have had children at Teaneck High School, you are the first teacher that has taken the time to give me regular updates on my child's progress. When Robert was having trouble with his vocabulary homework at the beginning of the year you called me right away and I was able to get Robert back on track immediately. I have learned the hard way that by the time a progress report is sent home it is often too late to do anything to help your child. By the time that progress report is received the hole that the child is in might already be too deep. I know there are parent teacher conferences, but they often don't coincide with the point that your child is having problems. You have also called to tell me good things about Robert. It is nice to know when Robert is doing well and it makes me feel good about being a parent at Teaneck High School.
Your enthusiasm for teaching is contagious, and although it has often been hard for Robert to enjoy English class in the past due to his [own issues], he enjoys your class. Robert often talks about your ideas at home and while he sometimes mentions that he thinks your ideas are "whack," the fact that he is thinking about your ideas and being encouraged to develop his own is a great thing.
Mr. Zacharia, I hope you remain at Teaneck High School a very long time, or at least until Robert's little sister gets there in 7 years.
"You found time to keep in touch"
Dear Mr. Zacharia:
I would like to thank you for your interest and efforts given towards my son, Matt, this past school year. Despite your busy schedule and family life, you found time to keep in touch.
Your calls and e-mails were very helpful in keeping tabs on Matt. We were especially pleased to get "good" news from you. It showed a genuine interest in Matt, going beyond the mandated ... reporting. I'm sure that it is very gratifying for you as well to see growth and improvement in the students.
Especially helpful was your website showing weekly assignments. I wish that every teacher had such available. It would be enormously helpful in monitoring the schoolwork.
Finally, I found that you had very clear goals set for the year and showed a sincere excitement for the teaching and learning process.
Have a great summer holiday!
"Mark Zacharia has changed our lives"
To the Principal of Teaneck High School,
I e-mailed Mr. Zacharia to find out how my son Harry was doing. I found out he was fooling around, missing class, homework, and may receive an "E" for a grade. Mark closed with "Let me know how I can help."
He not only identified the problem, but he became part of the solution. I get e-mail progress reports once or twice a week. Harry got a B- last marking period.
Mark has a passion for living that reflects in his English Literature class. His search for excellence is nonstop. I see Harry has got back on track.
Mark Zacharia has changed our lives.
Thank You
"You make a difference in our son's life"
Dear Mr. Zacharia,
Thank you for the email. Yes, we are proud of and happy for Alberto. It's great to hear that you are proud of him, but you should also be proud of yourself.
Writing has always been extremely difficult for Alberto, something he has approached with fear and anxiety. Often he would refuse to write an assignment or an essay on a test, failing rather than facing his fear. That you have helped him overcome that fear and learn to write is an accomplishment of which you should be extremely proud.
Thank you for helping Alberto find his confidence. Thank you for helping him to find his voice.
Thank you for making a difference in our son's life.
Have a wonderful
summer, you've earned it.
"Thank you for your all your help"
To Mr. Zacharia,
I want to thank you for all the help and effort you have given Jenny C. I received her report card and I feel very proud of her. Thanks once again for everything. Carmen C.
"Mr. Zacharia has shown dedication and honest concern for my son"
Dear Mr. White, Principal:
I am writing you today to commend Mr. Zacharia on his diligence and honest concern for the well-being and educational furtherance of my son, Simon.
Simon has been a handful. For the last year his performance and attitude have been less than wonderful. Mr. Zacharia impressed me from the first time I met him at the open house at the beginning of the school year. I thought what luck that my son has an intersting, forward thinking teacher. Unfortunately, my son has not seen it that way and refused to cooperate with both me and Mr. Zacharia.
However, I do want to bring to your attention the dedication and concern Mr. Zacharia has shown both to me and Simon. He has called when news was not good AND followed up when news got better, and improvements were noticed.
I hope you will see fit to commend him on this involvement and positive attitude as a teacher, when I know that not all of your staff members were as involved. Please pass my "thank you" on to him, also. Your staff needs to know when parents appreciate them too.
"Thank you for your efforts and encouragement"
Dear Mr. Zacharia:
As it comes to the end of another school year, I would like to thank you for your efforts and encouragement given to my daughter, Denise, in your 10th grade class. I have met with you on more than one occasion at the Parent Teachers Conference, shared my concerns with you and I am happy to say I have seen the improvement in Denise's performance.
Denise will be moving on to another level and I hope she will take with her all you have taught her and keep applying this to her studies especially when it is time to start preparing herself for college.
My commendation to you and I implore you to keep up the good work with the students.
"You have had a positive impact in our lives"
Dear Mr. Zacharia:
I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude for your valued contribution to my child's development this year as his Language arts teacher. There has been a marked improvement in several areas, including: writing ability, creativity, freedom of thought, knowledge of a variety of literature, and overall academic discipline.
Additionally, I'd like to thank you for the communication initiative that you have taken with me in keeping me abreast of [my son's] progress. I'm sure you know that as children grow into young adults their methods of communication tend to shift. You offered me a comfort zone of simply knowing his challenges and victories.
Your teaching style and interpersonal skills have made this year a most pleasant experience. When someone steps up to the plate with the care and concern that you display for your students, it ought to be recognized. Please accept this letter as my appreciation of the positive impact that you have had in our lives this year.
"Your constant contact was of great value to me"
Dear Mr. Zacharia,
I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I appreciate the dedication you put into your class.
My child receives the individualized attention she needs to succeed in your class. You are always available to your students after school for any extra help. Your web page is a great tool for students to stay on top of class work and parents to see what their children are working on. You make your students realize they are accountable for themselves.
Your constant contact via email and phone was of great value to me. You not only alerted me to any possible problems, you also let me know good news.
You are very creative with your assignments. You force your students to think outside the box.
My daughter continues to benefit from your teaching because she knows you are genuinely interested in how she is doing. She may not always like to constant contact, but she knows that it is only to her benefit. I know that she is receiving the necessary skills to succeed in her years of schooling to come.
"I felt compelled to write to say thank-you for caring!"
I remember the call, somewhere during first semester of Freshman year last school year. It was a call you made to me to let me know that my daughter, Sally, was not living up to her potential in your class. Not only was she behind in assignments, but she failed to meet with you on an at-home reading novel assignment. One that required periodic verbal meetings with you, as her instructor.
I was disappointed that Sally's lackadaisical study habits elicited the call. However, I was pleased that an instructor would take the few minutes to give me a call and let me know that you thought her mid-marking period progress should be better. I was perhaps most intrigued with the immediate feedback and attention you gave directly to Sally regarding her class efforts.
We decided it was a balance to be struck, with sports, friends, and studies. I chalked it off to a transition, one that started on the wrong foot. However, we left the ultimate decision up to Sally. The report card came home, for first semester of the 2006-2007 school year. One that was commendable, full of honor-roll grades, except for one GLARING D+. This was in your English class.
It is here, that it all came together for Sally. Your taking notice, your discussion(s) with her, your calling her out. That D+ sat, in-folded in her vanity mirror for an entire school year.
The very next I remember was that she took a keen interest in the class. Instead of hiding from what was her worst enemy, a dastardly mix of procrastination and perfection, she stepped up to bat. She studied harder, and toiled longer. Now finding strength in her voice, and determination in her step; your class consistently challenged her to be her creative best.
I remember the chapters on Shakespeare. She fell in love with the romantic language, so much so that she could repeat stanzas and soliloqies. She now has the works of Shakespeare, a gift for her 15th birthday. What was spoken in class reverberated at home.
She continued
on performing highly, and was ecstatic to be in your 10th grade English class
as well.
This year, her writing and understanding is only better. Getting better with
each report, each assignment, each topic.
Mr. Z - I can only say, it is your direct influence and teaching style that has inspired her to confront her passion. In your class she is consistently introduced to compelling topics, and takes an active participation in the class. It is one of the only courses we regularly discuss the subject matter of in depth. Be it Bradstreet or The Puritans, it is that important in her day. As important as her friend Ryan, or her next cheering event.
I thank you, and credit you, for being directly responsible in catapulting her over her oppressive writer's block, and for opening pathways--pathways that, at this age, if closed, may have proved debilitating. Her study habits cultivated NOW, are so important to train her for college...and life. Thank you for inspiring her. And, for suggesting to her that she was bigger than the effort she was giving. Honestly, I think she might actually believe it.
I felt compelled to write to you, and let you know Mr. Z -- thanks for caring!